There's no good reason he knows for why it needs to be a new blade, aside from being told as much. Five isn't as well-versed in the dead as most of them seem to be. Someone in their group might be able to explain it to him, if he ever bothers to bring it up.

Fortunately, Eleven agrees before he has to insist any more.

"No problem." He still has plenty of coin at his disposal, since everyone seems to want payment in other forms. Such as killing a dead man at the bottom of the lake. There's a part of him that wonders if this is all a test, given the Merchant's sudden interest. He can worry about that later.

"Thank you." There are times he remembers to say that. Ordering someone to two days of labor seems like an appropriate one.